The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has alleged that it has uncovered plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to conspire with some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate ballot papers and other materials used during the election, with a view to using them as exhibits at the election tribunal.
The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, who made this allegation in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti said “The APC is not new to what is known as ‘ibo lehin ibo’ (voting after voting), hence our decision to alert the public.”
However, the APC, in a swift reaction by its Head of Media and Publicity, Segun Dipe, said the allegation was unfounded.
“The PDP is only engaging in panic reaction. That is not possible as all stakeholders including INEC officials and party agents among others all endorsed result sheets at various stages, adding that “Our party should be counted out of such a move.”
But the PDP insisted that it had on good authority that some unscrupulous INEC officials were already being approached with millions of naira to carry out the devilish plan of voiding PDP votes, after which the APC will demand for ballot recount at the tribunal.
According to the statement, “Nigerians should be reminded of how four staff of INEC were arrested by the police on June 24, 2011 at a hotel in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government Area while doctoring materials used in Ekiti East Constituency 2 House of Assembly election in 2011.
“Subsequently, the four INEC staff were arraigned in an Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court on eight count charge of alleged tampering with electoral materials used for the House of Assembly election in April.
“Interestingly, up till today, no one can say precisely what has happened to the four INEC staff and the case filed against them.
“This time around, having made the choice of who should be their governor, Ekiti people will not take any ‘ibo lehin ibo’ (voting after voting) from the APC and its INEC collaborators.
“Therefore, owing to the antecedents of the APC, we are calling on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to see to the safe-keep of the materials used during the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, especially the ballot papers and voters registers on which accreditation were done, the PDP has said.”
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